OSI 20mTS Coupé

The O.S.I. 20mTS Coupé was a four-seat grand touring car produced by the Turin-based O.S.I. (Officine Stampaggi Industriali) during the second half of the 1960s. Designed by Sergio Sartorelli, the model used Ford mechanical components derived from the 20M range but was developed, bodied and assembled by O.S.I. in Turin. Although frequently referred to as the Ford OSI 20M TS, the car was not simply a Ford production model fitted with Italian coachwork. Ford supplied the mechanical basis, including the V6 engine and components of the chassis and lower body structure, while O.S.I. carried out the modifications necessary for the new model and manufactured the complete body and vehicle. The design was created by Sergio Sartorelli, who had previously worked on the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 34. The 20mTS featured a low coupé profile, a large glazed area, a long bonnet and a fastback-style rear section. Its appearance differed considerably from contemporary Ford production cars and followed the proportions of an Italian gran turismo. The 20mTS was offered with Ford V6 engines, principally in 2.0-litre and 2.3-litre form. Earlier published figures have often attributed 870 cars to the 2.0-litre version and 409 to the 2.3-litre version, for a total of 1,279 examples. More recent historical research, however, indicates that these figures cannot be regarded as a definitive production total. The car achieved an important commercial presence in Germany. Stuttgart-based Schwabengarage is reported to have acquired approximately 1,500 O.S.I. 20mTS cars from the 1967 production alone, subsequently distributing them through the European Ford dealer network. This figure indicates that overall production was higher than the 1,279 examples traditionally quoted in some publications. The definitive total number of 20mTS cars produced remains under investigation. German prices ranged from approximately 14,900 DM to 15,200 DM, depending on version and specification. The close involvement of Ford’s European sales network contributed to the model becoming widely identified as a Ford. A 20mTS Cabriolet was also constructed and exhibited in 1967. Unlike the coupé, the open version remained a one-off and did not enter series production.